Control apparatus for actuating an elongate medical shaft

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for moving an intraluminal filament, such as a shaft or hypotube. The actuator includes a housing having a channel therein, the channel having at least a first inclined surface. The actuator also includes a pivotable actuator assembly coupled to the housing and having first and second spaced-apart jaws extending into the channel. The first and second jaws define an opening of a first dimension therebetween. The actuator assembly pivots for urging at least one of the first and second jaws against at least the first inclined surface to transition the first dimension to a second dimension. The method comprises aligning the intraluminal filament between spaced-apart jaws of a pivotable actuator assembly, pivoting the actuator assembly to urge said jaws against at least one surface causing said jaws to grip the intraluminal filament, and further pivoting the actuator assembly to move the intraluminal filament.

1. A control apparatus for moving an intraluminal shaft of a medical device, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a longitudinally extending channel through at least a portion thereof, said channel having at least a first surface substantially inclined along a longitudinal direction; and 
 an actuator movably mounted to the housing, the actuator being coupled to first and second spaced-apart jaws disposed in the channel, the jaws being adapted for releasably gripping a shaft extending longitudinally through the channel, said first and second jaws defining an opening of a first dimension therebetween for receiving the shaft, said actuator being movable to urge at least one of said first and second jaws longitudinally along said first substantially inclined surface to transition said first dimension to a second dimension adapted to grip the shaft, whereby continued movement of the actuator may cause longitudinal movement of the shaft. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second dimension is smaller than said first dimension. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the second dimension of said opening corresponds to a gripping dimension between said first and second spaced-apart jaws, and said first dimension corresponds to a release dimension between said first and second spaced-apart jaws. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said channel comprises:
 a release region; 
 a first gripping region; and 
 a first transition region between said release region and said gripping region, said first transition region including said first substantially inclined surface. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said release region has a width greater than an outside width of said first and second spaced-apart jaws. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said first gripping region has a width substantially equal to said outside width of said first and second spaced-apan jaws. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said first substantially inclined surface comprises a curved surface. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said first transition region further comprises at least a second substantially inclined surface, said first and second inclined surfaces for engaging said spaced-apart jaws respectively to reduce said first dimension. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said channel has at least one surface positioned to limit motion of said actuator assembly. 
     
     
       10. A control apparatus for moving a shaft of an intraluminal medical device in a first, longitudinal direction, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a longitudinally extending channel through at least a portion thereof and having at least a first surface substantially inclined along a longitudinal direction said channel being dimensioned to receive said medical shaft therein; and 
 an actuator movably mounted to said housing, the actuator being coupled to first and second spaced-apart jaws extending into said channel, the jaws defining an opening therebetween for receiving and releasably gripping said medical shaft, said channel further comprising: 
 a release region wherein said spaced-apart jaws do not engage said medical shaft; 
 a first engagement region wherein said spaced-apart jaws grip said medical shaft; and 
 a first transition region between said release region and said first engagement region for urging said spaced-apart jaws into engagement with said medical shaft. 
 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said first transition region comprises first and second substantially opposed inclined surfaces separated by a first dimension proximate said release region and separated by a second dimension proximate said first engagement region, said second dimension being smaller than said first dimension. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein movement of said first and second spaced apart jaws in a first direction causes said first and second spaced-apart jaws to move from said release region, through said first transition region to grip said medical shaft, and into said first engagement region to translationally move said medical shaft in said first direction.